feel that I cannot attend to business,"
replied Joey, "and I am quite ashamed of myself; I was thinking that, if
you had no objection to allow me a couple of months' leave of absence,
change of air would be very serviceable to me. I have something to do
at Dudstone, which I have put off ever since I came to Portsmouth."

"I think change of air would be very serviceable to you, my dear
fellow," replied Mr Small; "but what business you can have at Dudstone
I cannot imagine."

"Simply this--I locked up my apartments, leaving my furniture, books,
and linen, when I went away, more than four years ago, and have never
found time to look after them."

"Well, they must want dusting by this time, O'Donahue, so look after
them if you please; but I think looking after your health is of more
consequence, so you have my full consent to take a holiday, and remain
away three months, if necessary, till you are perfectly re-established."

"And you have mine," added Mr Sleek, "and I will do your work while you
are away."

Our hero thanked his senior partners for their kind compliance with his
wishes, and stated his intention of starting the next morning by the
early coach, and then left the counting-house to make preparations for
his journey.

Joey joined the party, which was numerous, at dinner. It was not until
they were in the drawing-room after dinner, that Mr Small had an
opportunity of communicating to Mrs Phillips what were our hero's
intentions. Mrs Phillips considered it a very advisable measure, as
Joey had evidently suffered very much lately: probably over-exertion
might have been the cause, and relaxation would effect the cure.

Emma, who was sitting by her mother, turned pale; she had not imagined
that our hero would have followed up his expressed intentions of the
morning, and she asked Mr Small if he knew when O'Donahue would leave
Portsmouth. The reply was, that he had taken his place on the early
coach of the next morning: and Emma fell back on the sofa, and did not
say anything more.

When the company had all left, Mrs Phillips rose and lighted a chamber
candlestick to go to bed, and Emma followed the motions of her mother.
Mrs Phillips shook hands with our hero, wishing him a great deal of
pleasure, and that he would return quite restored in health. Emma, who
found that all chance of an interview with our hero was gone, mustered
up courage enough to extend her hand and say,--"I hope your absence will
be p